Store aims to be part of community

A NEW store due to open in Stockton Heath next month hopes to become “part of the community.”
Tim Weller, manager of the new Aldi store which is to open in the former House Shop premises, gave this assurance at a meeting of Stockton Heath Parish Council after hearing the concerns of local councillors.
Members were worried about litter, sale of alcohol, car parking and noise from delivery vans.
Coun Liz Jewkes said: “I am concerned about delivery times as this is a residential area – people live backing onto this car park.”
She was concerned that noisy refrigerated vehicles would disturb residents if they were waiting on the car park to deliver.
Mr Weller said the store hours were expected to be 9am to 8pm and there would need to be people in the store to take deliveries. Produce would be delivered fresh to the store every day, so he expected deliveries to be about 6-7am.
He said: “We are concerned about costs, so would not want to have lorries waiting around on the car park.”
Members also asked about where alcohol would be displayed and said that another supermarket had displayed it by the back door, resulting in youngsters “nipping in” and taking it.
Mr Weller said alcohol would be displayed along the window, but would be protected by a barrier between it and the exit.
A caretaker would be employed for two hours every morning and litter-prevention was part of his duties. Measures were being taken to prevent people parking on the car park for more than two hours to ensure spaces were available for customers.
He added: “We are keen to work with local schools and be involved in events.
“We are keen to get to know the local community and for them to get to know the staff, and recruit more staff.”